Premier League chief delivers five substitution blow to Brighton, Liverpool and Man City

It's a blow for Brighton as they have twice voted in favour of increasing the number of matchday substitutions to five per team.

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola have also led the calls for the Premier League to reintroduce five substitutes this season in a bid to curb a spate of injuries.

Albion chief executive Paul Barber said: “It suits Graham (Potter, head coach), it suits our particular game management systems and the way Graham likes to use his squad and change systems during games.

“We voted positively twice on the idea and, if there was to be another vote, we would vote positively again.”

Masters, giving evidence at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, revealed clubs had voted against it twice already and does not expect it to be changed from three any time soon.

“We have had two votes on it at club level and both have been relatively supportive of three subs,” he said.

“That has created some frustration, alongside discussions of fixture scheduling, which is related to the pandemic. There is a real issue and I don’t foresee it changing in the foreseeable future. It has been voted on twice.”

Masters confirmed that the Premier League will be “changing direction” away from televising some games on a pay-per-view.

The decision to broadcast several matches behind an additional paywall has been hugely criticised and the Premier League will change tact.

“We took a decision to move to pay-per-view and now we are reviewing that decision,” Masters added.

“We have listened to feedback, we will be changing direction and moving away from it and taking another step that will see us through lockdown, the Christmas period and into January. I can’t announce what it is.”